"Yellow Du".

Su Wanwan looked at Xiao Bin with a puzzled expression. Huangdu is a medicinal herb, but it doesn't look like this.

"I heard it's easy to grow and has a high yield."

That's very appealing.

The Xuanfu area is bitterly cold year-round, which is suitable for easy-to-grow crops.

Su Wanwan sent people to find "Huangdu" on the market, inquired about its cultivation methods, and became increasingly interested, planning to try cultivating it indoors during the winter.

"Sister, Lord Xiao's coat has a tear. Look at this newly bought mink fur, why don't we make him an outer robe?"

Su Wanying, holding the new cloth and fur, asked Su Wanwan.

These days, watching them interact with restraint and politeness, neither too hot nor too cold, she wanted to add fuel to the fire.

When my second uncle returns, we can ask him to make the decision and agree to their marriage.

Su Wanwan had also noticed the tear in Xiao Bin's clothes earlier, and she didn't know where it had been torn, but she had been pretending not to see it.

Unexpectedly, Su Wanying, with her sharp eyes, still spotted it.

"I don't know how to do needlework," Su Wanwan made up an excuse.

"Let's find someone to help." Soon, their maids and servants were summoned to offer suggestions on how to sew the robes.

With many hands making light work, a brand new robe was completed the next day, lined with mink fur and covered with dark blue satin, both warm and practical.

Su Wanwan had someone start sewing clothes for her father, Su Nan, again, to avoid giving anyone cause for gossip.

Everyone was busy with their tasks when the doorman came to report, "Miss Zhou has arrived."

Zhou Wanxiu rushed in, lifting her skirt, and gestured for Su Wanwan to dismiss everyone in the room, her face full of urgency.

"Aunt Wan, there's talk of deposing the Empress in the palace!"

Su Wanwan wasn't surprised at all and gave her a casual glance.

"so what?"

Zhou Wanxiu hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

After a long pause, he finally said, "Aren't you in a hurry?"

Su Wanwan paused slightly as she stretched the fabric: "What does this have to do with me?"

Zhou Wanxiu stamped her foot: "Oh dear, if the empress is deposed, a new empress will definitely be installed. Don't you want to give it a try?"

Su Wanwan smiled faintly, her hands continuing their work:

"You're joking. I'm a divorced widow who has returned home, and I'm also known as a jinx. Even if all the women in the world died, it wouldn't be my turn."

After saying that, she turned her head and glanced at Zhou Wanxiu: "You can give it a try."

Zhou Wanxiu blushed with excitement.

She traveled for two or three days to get here, just for Su Wanwan's words.

If Su Wanwan were willing to put herself in that position...

Suppressing her inner excitement, Zhou Wanxiu carefully chose her words: "But..."

Su Wanwan finally stood up straight and looked at Zhou Wanxiu seriously:

"Empress Xia met her end there. Have you really thought this through? Do you really want to sit in that position?"

"Not everyone has the charm and methods of Empress Zhang, who dominated the harem."

Zhou Wanxiu's face paled: "I didn't mean it that way, but I just wanted to try."

In terms of family background and appearance, she stood out among all the noble ladies in the capital, and she had known the emperor since childhood.

And most importantly, she can tolerate Su Wanwan.

Su Wanwan refused to become a concubine and was willing to have an affair with the emperor. She would turn a blind eye and not make things difficult for her like Empress Xia did.

The two of them, one openly and one covertly, helped each other in the harem, enabling the Zhou family to regain its former glory.

This is also a very favorable situation for Su Wanwan.

"Moreover, the Wang and Zhang families are also trying to send their daughters to the imperial harem."

Zhou Wanxiu bit her lip and explained the current unfavorable situation: "The Earl of Chongshan is the Empress Dowager's younger brother. His granddaughter is serving in Renshou Palace every day, just waiting to see the Emperor and receive his favor as soon as possible."

"The Zhang family also selected several daughters from in-law families to raise in the palace."

"And that Consort Yu who challenged you, she's now running rampant in the palace, enjoying immense favor."

Su Wanwan said patiently, "If you want to compete for the empress's position, you should stay in the capital and put your efforts into it. Coming here is of no use whatsoever."

Zhou Wanxiu stared at her blankly for a long time, and finally asked in a low voice, "Don't you have any thoughts at all?"

"No."

"You're lying." Zhou Wanxiu disregarded her pride, her eyes reddening.

"If you have no ideas, you should try to help me become empress. That would be in your best interest, wouldn't it?"

At this moment, her feelings towards Su Wanwan were far more jealousy than friendship or kinship.

Her hatred for Su Wanwan had reached its peak long before the emperor rejected her again.

It was all Su Wanwan's instigation that led her to make this foolish move, and now he despises her for it.

If she could access the emperor, she wouldn't have braved the freezing cold to come here to find Su Wanwan and seek even the slightest possibility.

The fact that even the emperor was willing to stay at the Su family's residence shows how much he liked Su Wanwan.

If Su Wanwan were to say a few good words for her in front of the emperor, it would definitely have an effect.

Su Wanwan was speechless.

Zhou Wanxiu is relentlessly exploiting her.

Even after they've hidden themselves here, Zhou Wanxiu still won't let them go.

"You should go back to the capital and find some connections."

Zhou Wanxiu's face was ashen.

She regretted spreading the rumors about Su Wanwan at Minister Liu's residence that day.

Who would have thought that Yu Ji would suddenly appear?

The emperor, who was so averse to women, was actually captivated by Consort Yu.

She was, after all, a delicate young lady from a secluded family.

After traveling for several days, I am exhausted and plan to rest for one night before returning to Beijing.

The next day, when he was leaving, he ran into Xiao Bin at the Su family's door.

He Ying handed a folded robe to Xiao Bin, saying, "This is what my young lady asked everyone to prepare for Lord Xiao."

Zhou Wanxiu glanced at it and remembered that a similar men's outer robe had been hanging in Su Wanwan's room yesterday.

Su Wanwan's words, "It's not like I can't live without him," flashed through my mind.

She looked at Xiao Bin intently for a few moments.

It must be said that Xiao Bin has excellent height and physical attributes.

Unlike Lu Xingjian's noble and superior temperament.

He was very down-to-earth, so quiet and reserved that he seemed almost nonexistent.

But once they start moving, their efficiency and fluidity are impossible to ignore.

Would Su Wanwan like this one?

...

The Winter Solstice Festival is a big day. The imperial court granted a three-day holiday, and Su Nan also rushed back from Datong.

Wearing the new clothes prepared for him by the two sisters, his usually dignified face revealed a hint of kindness.

"These days have been tough for you all."

“It’s not hard at all. With Lord Xiao’s help, it’s much more interesting than being in the capital.” Su Wanying spoke quickly, steer the conversation toward Xiao Bin.

"Lord Xiao?" Su Nan raised an eyebrow.

Su Wanwan introduced with a smile, her expression slightly tense:

“He used to be my bodyguard, but now he’s a centurion, in charge of my donated dowry.”

"The roads that are currently under construction were all organized and arranged by him."

Su Nan nodded: "Then please come and meet me."